Jockeys' title race heats up as 642-1 treble sees Colin Keane reduce gap to five with just over three weeks to go

It's going right down to the wire, folks. 

When Dylan Browne McMonagle helped himself to a treble at Bellewstown last Thursday, it looked as though it might be the killer blow that knocked Colin Keane to the canvas in the Irish Flat jockeys' championship, but the six-time champion is back on his feet and came back swinging with a 642-1 treble at his local track, reducing the gap to five. It's game on! 

Keane didn't appear to have a stellar book of rides, but victories at 12-1, 8-1 and 9-2, which put him on the 81-winner mark, have spiced up the title race with three and a half weeks to go. It ends at the Curragh on November 2 and the stage is set for a gripping climax.  

Keane got off the mark on Chester Nimitz, who was narrowly denied in a maiden on his debut at this very same fixture last year, and he returned 12 months later to go one better, opening his account at the ninth time of asking. 

Sent off 12-1 for the 6f maiden, Chester Nimitz stuck his neck out to foil the gamble on Ballintogher by a head. The runner-up had been supported from 9-2 into 9-4.

Winning trainer Noel Meade said: "He is due to go to the sales at the end of the month. He'll be a nice horse for some of the foreign countries – he goes on top of the ground and he's a lovely big horse."

Keane also had to be at his strongest to score on Step Back In Time in the 6f handicap. 

A previous course winner, the Chris Timmons-trained seven-year-old was sent off at 8-1 and found plenty for pressure to repel Gimmieminnie by half a length. 

Keane's treble was completed on Forlio for Paul Flynn in the first division of the 1m2f handicap. 

Keane secures the middle leg of his treble with Step Back In Time (left)Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Birthday boy Mulvany

Birthday presents don't come much more generous than a 208-1 double at your local track, and Mick Mulvany celebrated turning 59 in style thanks to the victories of The Love Machine and Boyne Valley. 

"It's my birthday today, would you believe," beamed Mulvany after his hot streak continued, this being the second Wednesday in a row that he's had a double after Bellewstown last week. 

The Love Machine's success resulted in Terry Casey's claim being cut from 10lb to 7lb as it was his third winner in the 6f nursery, while Wesley Joyce was in the saddle for the emphatic victory of Boyne Valley in the concluding 1m2f handicap.

Bright future for Kindergarten 

Jessica Harrington unleashed an exciting winning newcomer in the opening 6f maiden.

Fresh from the brave victory of Barnavara in the Prix de l'Opera on Arc day, Harrington and Shane Foley teamed up with Kindergarten and the daughter of Lucky Vega scored in style by three-quarters of a length from fellow newcomer Ocean's Breath.

The market told you a big run was expected as she was supported into 7-1 (from 16) before the off.

Harrington said: "She's a lovely filly and we've always liked her – she has just taken time. It is extraordinary – I thought the Lucky Vegas would be lovely early horses but they haven't been. She has plenty of natural speed and she's a very nice filly."

Read more here

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